Chasing 240 to win in 50 overs, India were jolted early on as they lost Rohit Sharma, Kohli and KL Rahul in opening 3.1 overs. They were reeling at 5/3 and that worsened to 24/4 in 10 overs in their ICC World Cup 2019 semi-final against New Zealand

Manchester: Disappointed after losing the ICC World Cup 2019 semi-final to New Zealand, India captain Virat Kohli said “45 minutes of bad cricket” resulted in them being knocked out of the 10-team tournament.

It was heartbreak for India and millions of fans as the ‘men in blue’ crashed out, losing to the Kiwis by 18 runs at Old Trafford on Wednesday (July 10). It was a two-day affair had rain had halted the New Zealand batting innings on Tuesday and it resumed today.

Chasing 240 to win in 50 overs, India were jolted early on as they lost Rohit Sharma, Kohli and KL Rahul in opening 3.1 overs. They were reeling at 5/3 and that worsened to 24/4 in 10 overs. The match was almost sealed in the first 60 balls. However, Ravindra Jadeja’s backs-to-the-wall innings of 77 off 59 revived Indians but with the asking rate to high, India fell short in the end to be bowled out for 221 in 49.3 overs.

Speaking after the match, Kohli admitted that he was disappointed at losing the semi-final but praised the Kane Williamson-led side for their super performance with the ball.

“The first half we were spot on (with the ball). We got what we needed in the field. We knew we had a good day yesterday, we felt like we had the momentum, but the credit has to go to New Zealand bowlers. The swing and help they got from the surface — the skill from them was on display.

“Jaddu (Jadeja) had an outstanding couple of games. He went with so much clarity, MS (Dhoni) had a good partnership with him. It was a game of margins and MS was run out (in the 49th over). It is always feels disappointing when you have played such good cricket (throughout the tournament) and then 45 minutes of bad cricket puts you out of the tournament. Difficult to take it, but New Zealand deserve it,” Kohli said.

It was Jadeja and Dhoni’s partnership that raised Indian team’s hopes as they associated for 100 runs for the seventh wicket. Jadeja fell in the 48th over and Dhoni (50 off 72) fell to a brilliant piece of fielding by Martin Guptill as his direct hit caught the wicketkeeper-batsman short of the crease when India needed 31 off final two overs.